Cleaning mechanism



g- 1933- w. G. WALLENBECK 1,924,386

CLEANING MECHANISM Filed Aug. 24. 1931 INVENTOR. \NILLIAI"! G. MLLENBECK "Mk/dim ATTORNEY.

Patented Aug. 29, 1933 UNITED? STATES I 1,924,386 icmmm MECHANISM v William G. Wallenbeck, Chicago, 111. Application August 24, 1931. Serial No. 558,915: j 7 Claims. (01. -12 1) My invention relates to an improved construction of cleaning mechanism applicable to a variety of cleaning operations, for example, ,to cleaning operations generally where surfaces -15 that are flat, or'nearly so,-are ,to be washed 7 with water and the water is to be removed after the washing operation, as in the case of washing windows, and in numerous other cases where.

More specifically, my improved holder con struction consists of a form around which the cleaning pad may be wrapped, which form is rigid or substantially so, and clamping devices on each side of the shank of the form, each adapted toengage one end of the cleaning pad, to the end that the cleaning pad may be snugly held around the form. The clamping devices are preferably of an overall thickness somewhat less than the corresponding thickness of the tire outer surface of the cleaning pad is available for cleaning purposes. It is desirable that a suitable cleaning pad be selected for the particular cleaningoperation to be performed. For examplewhere the cleaning mechanism isto be used for washing windows, a cleaning pad is selected that will readily hold water in considerable quantity, whereas for cleaning walls in 4 dry condition, a cleaning pad is selected that will held by one of the clamps of the device, so that one side of the cleaning mechanism maybe used forwashing the surface to be cleanedgwhile. the other side, supporting the squeegee construction, may be used to remove thewater from the surface being cleaned. In other cases, where the cleaning pad is used in .dry' condition, the

along the line 33,

"cleaning -mechanism with the squeegee con- V 'struction removed, and form, as'a result of which practically the encleaning mechanism.

in dry condition effectively engage the grime and.

the shankllserving as ahandle for the mechanism when the surfaces to ,be cleaned are squeegee construction is not used, and practi-v cally'the entire outer surface of .the cleaning padisavailable for cleaning purposes. By my invention, I preferably construct the holder for the cleaning pads, of sheet metal so that'the form supporting the cleaning, pad, the clampingdevices, and the shank of'the holder are of" simple and cheap construction, effectively and simply held together, at the same timeprovidinga structure which'positively holds the cleaning pad and permits its effective use. My invention will best be understood by reference to the accompanying drawing showing a' preferred embodiment thereof, in which 1 Fig. lshows my cleaningmechanismin front elevation withthe squeegee construction in place thereon, I Fig. 21isa vertical, sectional view toan enlarged scale, of the parts shown inFig. 1 taken along the line;2- 2,

. Fig. 3 is a horizontal, sectional view of a part 'of the construction shown in Fig. 1, taken Fig. 4 is a vertical, sectional view ofpart of the construction shown in Fig. 2, taken along 50 the line 44,

I Fig. 5 shows-in a view similar to Fig. lithe 'Fig SQshoWsin plan view, one of the clean,- ing pads I prefer to use in connection with'my Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the severalviews. I V 1 7 As shown in Figs. land 2, the holderfor supporting the'cleaning pads, consists of a sheet .metal form 10 having side'memb'ers 10a of curved cross section, connectedby aflat base portion 10b. The side members 10a are .provided with extendingribs 10c adjacent the base member 1012, to facilitate clampingjhe cleaning pad around the form 10 in a, manner to be described. The form -10, is supportedby a'shankll consisting preferably of two similar sheet metalparts, .lla, 11a, shaped to form a tapered tube to receive a handle, when itis desired to use the cleaning mechanism at -loca-' tions out of convenient reach'of the operator, 7

within convenient reach. Between thetapered tubular portion of the shank 11, and the base 101;, the shank is flattened, and is provided at its end. with tongues' 11,b extending through slots therefor in the base portion 10, said oF IcE tongues being pressed tightly against the surface of the base portion 10b .as indicated, in which position they are securely retained by second tongues 10d formed from the base portion 10b and pressed tightly against the tongues 111). In this manner, the form 10 and the shank 11 are securely held together. The portions 11a of the shank 11 are preferably held together bya rivet 12 adjacent the' outer end of the flattened portion of the shank, and the outer end of the shank is held together andreinforcedby a metal ring 13 which may be secured to the shank portions 11a, 11a in any,

suitable manner, for example by soldering or brazing.

Adjacent the base portion 101), the shank 11 has mounted on its flat'faces, clampingplates '14, 14, each of which is provided with a'clear ance slot 14a to receive a rivet 15 whichholds the clamping plates in place on the shank 11 and permits their free movement longitudinally on the shank Each of the clamping plates 14 is provided adjacent its upper edge, with an offset portion, terminating in an upwardlyextending flange 14b for engaging; an end portion of the cleaning pad 16 which is held in place on the form 10. The flanges l4b'are disposed 'just inside of the ribs 100, so that when the gagement of the upper ends of the bars with the ofiset portions of the clamping plates.

When-the bars are turned to their horizontal position, indicated by dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 5,, the clamping plates 14' are released and may be moved away from the base portion -101) to release the cleaning pad and permit the ready removal of the pad and the insertion of the same or another pad as desired. As indicated in Fig. 3, the lower ends l'laof the bars 1'7, are formed to fit the upper end portion of the tapered tubular portion of the shank 11,

.which tends to hold the bars in their locking position, which in turn holds the clamping plates in their clamping position.

The squeegee member consists of a plate of sheet metal 18 which is curved to surround one edge portion of the cleaning pad" 16 when in place on the holder, the upper edge portion of the plate being provided with a groove 18a in which'a strip of rubber 19 is tightly clamped, the upper edge of the sheet l8being extended nearly to the edge of the rubber strip, as indicated at 182) to afford support for the rubber strip during its operation. The sheet 18 is provided with a second transverse groove 18c ad-- jacent its lower edge, for engaging one of the flanges 141) when the squeegee construction is used, the plate l8'being then located between the flange 14b and the adjacent portion of the cleaning pad 16. As a result of this construction, the squeegee construction is securely held in place at one side of the pad 16, when it is desired to make use of it in connection with cleaning operations involving the use of water.

As indicated in Fig. 4, the base portion 10b is preferably provided with corrugations. 10e

' scope of the appended claims.

exact construction as I may employ equivalents known to the art at the time of the filing of this application without departing from the What I claim is: 1. Ina cleaning mechanism, the combination of a support comprising a base portion of sheet metal having flanges curved towards each other,

a shank secured to said base portion, said shank having flattened sides adjacent said base portion, slotted clamping plates movable. on said flattened sides towards and from said base portion, locking .barsfor operating and holding said plates in clamping position, said clamping plates having outwardly extending portions engaged by said locking bars, and a pivot rod extending through said bars and said shank and also through the slots in said clamping plates, and a cleaning pad held around said curved flangesand against said base portion by said clamping plates.

2. In a cleaning mechanism, the combination of a support comprising a base portion of sheet metal having flanges curved towards each other, 10 atapered and tubular shank secured tovsaid base portion, said shank having flattened sides engage the corresponding clamping plate and curved laterally at its other end portion to fit the smaller end of the tapered shank.

3. A holder for cleaning padscomprising the combination ofja sheet metal base having edge portion of said portions constituting a pad support, a shank secured to said base, movable clamping plates for holding a pad against said base, and'locking bars for holding said plates in clamping position, said clamping plates having outwardly extending portions, engaged by said locking bars to operate said clamping plates.

4. A holder for cleaning pads comprising the. combination of a sheet metal base having edge portions constituting a pad support, a shank securedto said base, movable clamping plates for holding a pad against'said base, locking bars for holding said plates in clamping position,

' said clamping plates having outwardly extending portions engaged by said locking bars to $4 operate said clamping plates, and a pivot rod extending through said bars and said shank.

-5. A holder for cleaning pads comprising the. combination of a sheet metal base having edge portions constituting a pad support, a shank se- Y combination of a sheet metal base having flange portions constituting a pad support, a shank secured to said base, and clamping plates for holding a pad on said support, said shank having end tongues extending through and bent against said base, and said base having second tongues holding said end tongues in place.

7. In a cleaning mechanism, the combination of a pad support comprising a sheet metal base portion having integral flanges extending in substantially parallel relation and in the same direction from said base portion, the outer portions of' said flanges having curved conformations and extending towards each other, a cleaning pad wrapped aroundsaid flanges and having its edge portions resting against said base portion, clamping devices holding the pad edge portions against said base portion, and a handle extending away from said base portion.

WILLIAM 'GIWALLENBECK. 

